Course overview

Graduating with two versatile degrees sets you up for a career without limitations. Combine an industry-leading legal education with thought-provoking investigative learning when you study Deakin's Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws. Study everything from tort law to commercial law at Deakin Law School, while exploring a complementary specialisation, including criminology, sociology, politics and policy studies and media studies, through your arts degree.

The real-world experience you gain throughout your degree will prepare you for roles across a wide range of fields. In the law stream, you can work on real cases alongside established legal professionals at the Deakin Law Clinic. In the arts stream, you will develop industry-relevant skills on work-integrated learning projects and, depending on your major, you may choose to undertake a study abroad experience.

Ready to develop transferable skills to enhance your career prospects in law?

The law is influenced by many social, economic, environmental and political factors. A combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws course gives you the knowledge and skills to understand these factors and work in areas where they may be relevant.

Deakin Law School provides a strong foundation in all major areas of law, including:

• contracts law
• legal practice and ethics
• criminal law and procedure
• torts
• property law
• constitutional law
• administrative law.

Gain a robust legal education and practical skills through our renowned programs at the Deakin Law Clinic, industry placements and internships. You can also undertake opportunities to study abroad through exchange programs and university partnerships to further enhance your contextual understanding.

Choose from a range of study areas in your arts degree, including social sciences, humanities and the arts. If you're interested in human behaviour, you might choose sociology. If the state of the world is more your thing, choose to focus on international relations. Or, you might opt for something that simply fascinates you, like anthropology or film and television studies.

Explore the latest industry concepts, legal practice and approaches in units taught by active researchers and legal professionals. Benefit from their existing connections and insights and gain that all-important competitive edge to stand out to your future employers.

Course structure

To complete the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws, students must attain a total of 40 credit points, consisting of 16 credit points from the Faculty of Arts and Education and 24 credit points from the Faculty of Business and Law, plus the compulsory 0-credit point MAI010 Academic Integrity Module. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake 2 trimesters each year.

Intakes by location

The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.

Workload

As a student you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time. The minimum expected workload for a Law unit will normally be around 150 hours, which includes attendance at class, reading, completion of any assessment, and preparation for the exam.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Recognition of prior learning

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of Prior Learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of Prior Learning.
Your Recognition of Prior Learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

Entry pathways

Alternative exits

• Associate Degree of Arts (A250)
• Bachelor of Arts (A310)
• Bachelor of Laws (M312)
• Diploma of Arabic (A221)
• Diploma of Arts (A215)
• Diploma of Chinese (A222)
• Diploma of Indonesian (A223)
• Diploma of Spanish (A224)

Careers

Career outcomes

Graduates can look forward to diverse and challenging career opportunities in a range of roles, including:

• conveyancer
• corporate lawyer
• law reform officer
• police officer
• judge
• jury consultant
• law academic
• legal adviser
• mediator
• police development manager
• policy adviser
• private investigator
• liquidator
• legal secretary
• international trade law consultant
• accountant
• auditor
• human resources manager
• stockbroker
• organisational counsellor
• small business owner
• immigration agent
• sport law adviser.

Professional recognition

Deakin’s Bachelor of Laws is designed to satisfy the university component of the requirements to become an Australian lawyer set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In addition to completing an approved law degree, a person seeking admission to the legal profession is required to work for one year as a supervised legal trainee, or to undertake an approved practical legal training course.